Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? Will Stitt or Trump recognize it? What to know in Oklahoma
America's newest federal holiday is right around the corner, but not everyone may get the day off work.
Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas when the last Black slaves of the Confederacy were ordered free following the arrival of Union troops.
The day, which rose to national prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests for ongoing racial inequities, was officially recognized a federal holiday by President Joe Biden in 2021.
But with the Trump administration pushing to end diversity, equity and inclusion, and Gov. Kevin Stitt following the president's stances against DEI, many may wonder how the Sooner State will celebrate the freedom of formerly enslaved people.
As it currently stands, Juneteenth is a federal holiday but not a state holiday, meaning that on Thursday, June 19, federal offices, such as the Oklahoma City Federal Building, will be closed, while state-run offices will remain open.
Conversely, the City of Oklahoma City declares an official holiday on Juneteenth, with a modified schedule and closures for city-run offices.
The governor has acknowledged the holiday in previous years; for instance, in 2020, he released a statement regarding the holiday amid the country's racial relations.
However, Stitt's office has yet to release a statement since then, only making posts on X in 2021 and 2022.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that honors June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Texas were set free. The order for the state came about two and a half years after the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.
It became a federal holiday in 2021 under the Biden administration.
Juneteenth will be celebrated on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The holiday is tied to that date, but workers might get the day off on a Monday or Friday some years if the federal holiday falls on a weekend.
In Oklahoma, Juneteenth remains on the calendar, both as a federal holiday and as organizers begin their events.
Oklahoma City and Tulsa both have events scheduled during Juneteenth weekend, with Tulsa's events starting on June 18.
Governor Kevin Stitt acknowledged the holiday throughout Oklahoma in June 2020, 2021 and 2022, though he hasn't since.
In his 2020 statement, he stated, "As a man of faith, I look to 1 Corinthians 12:26, which says, 'If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.'"
"We can admit that racism is real and that it's wrong, even if we haven't experienced it firsthand. After all, how can we be a part of a solution to a problem we won't admit exists?"
Oklahoma has observed Juneteenth since 1994, but it is not a state holiday; therefore, state government offices in Oklahoma will remain open.
Likewise, city offices and city operations will be affected by the holiday.
Governor Stitt's Office did not comment on whether the governor plans to declare the holiday this year.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? Will Oklahoma recognize it? What to know
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